Grapevine Sept and Oct 2019
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grapevine The Parish of Sandal Magna September/October 2019 St. Helen’s, Sandal • St. Paul’s, Walton Autumn Festivities 29th September Sandal Scarecrow Festival opens, 11am St Helen’s Church Come and collect your maps and enjoy refreshments and a warm welcome. Hade Edge Brass Band Concert 7pm, St Helen’s Church Tickets £10 (under 14’s free) on sale at The Spring or St Helen’s In aid of Star Bereavement Support Service 30th September Joint Parish Harvest Festival Service of Holy Communion 11am, St Helen’s Lunch at Sandal Cricket Club; bring a picnic or enjoy the food served there. 6th October Joint Harvest Festival Service with St Paul’s at the Methodist Church, Walton, 10.45am 12th October 3-5pm, Opening of the refurbished Portobello Community Centre 20, Portobello Road, WF2 7JJ 1 Contents Humility comes before Honour .........................................2 Images in the Bible ...........................................................3 Who am I, and where do I fit in? Angela Elphick ..............6 The Spring ........................................................................8 Inner Wheel Club of Wakefield .........................................8 Children are welcome here ...............................................8 Worship 9 Information & Regular Events ...........................................11 Prayer Times ~ All Welcome .............................................12 Prayer in times of special need ........................................12 Focus for Prayer ...............................................................12 Humility comes before Honour I remember being at the Oval on the last day in 2005 when England reclaimed the Ashes thanks to an epic innings by Kevin Pieterson. In future years many will recall where they were on 25th August when Ben Stokes saved at the Headingly test match through sheer guts, skill and determination, with the capable help of the bespectacled Jack Leach, just as Botham did in 1981, with the help of Graham Dilley. We love a good swashbuckling hero who saves the day, but a year ago Ben Stokes was in trouble having been involved in a brawl outside a Bristol night club. Sport has many stories of people turning their lives around, and been able to put their aggression into the acceptable channels of the gladiatorial contest which is sport. Sport like art can hold up a mirror to human nature, reflecting our true character. The grace shown in defeat by defeated captains is a good example. We would be well advised not to put Ben Stokes on a pedestal, as that is the last place where he would want to be. The other aspect of this spectacular result was the quiet but vital role played by Jack Leach. Cricket is a game of partnerships as well as individual heroics and team spirit. No-one can truly claim credit alone for any achievement. Who we are and what we do is built upon vital human relationships which sustain us through the ups and downs of 2 life. The quiet, behind the scenes, humble people are just as heroic in their own way as their more charismatic counterparts. Whilst admiring moments of individual brilliance, let’s also celebrate the work of partners and teams which underpin any personal achievement. Rupert Images in the Bible A new series on Images in the Bible begins with the lowly feet which carry us about our business. They can be a symbol of many things, hospitality, serving, being disciples, worshipping, sharing good news. FEET Our feet are not the most prepossessing part of our anatomy. They can be misshapen like the feet of a rock climber or ballet dancer who have to squeeze their feet into tiny shoes to execute their skilful movement on point or on rock. They can also be beautiful like the feet of a new born baby with its tiny toes. Whatever they look like, feet are a vital part of who we are, and their loss can be hard to bear. Feet enable us to stand tall but they are also 3 an image of humility. They can bring harm or good. They can lead us astray or help us stick to the path. They can slip and stumble or they can keep us upright. They are symbols of worship, service and learning, where we find our proper place. In a land where sandalled feet became dusty and grimy very quickly, hospitality began with the washing of the guests feet.The angels who arrive at the oaks of Mamre are invited by Abraham: Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Genesis 18:4 In Luke’s Gospel, there is a deep tenderness in Jesus receiving the ablutions of the woman in Luke’s Gospel: As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. Luke 7:38 He is criticised by his host for allowing her even to touch him, and he rebukes Simon for his own rudeness:Then he turned towards the woman and said to Simon, ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Luke 7:44-6. Her beautiful act of kindness is met with loving forgiveness and affirmation. Just as he was willing to receive the service of hospitality, Jesus showed the disciples how to serve, by doing the unthinkable, washing their dirty feet. Peter’s reaction shows what an astonishing action this was: ‘No,’ said Peter, ‘you shall never wash my feet.’ John 13:8. Jesus makes it clear that receiving his ministrations is a vital part of belonging to his servant way of life: Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’ We then have a humorous interlude when Peter exaggerates his need to have his whole body washed, and Jesus says don’t be ridiculous, it’s only your feet that need washing. Jesus concludes by making clear the significance of what he has done: Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. John 13:14 The disciples knew their place was to sit at Jesus’ feet, eager to learn from the Master. In allowing the healed man from Gerasa and Mary the sister of Martha to sit at his feet as disciples Jesus was inviting foreigners and women, who had previously been denied access to the teaching of Rabbis, to be included in his radical, subversive movement. 4 To have people at your feet was often a sign that you had power over them either to crush them or to lift them up and honour them. Jesus changed that mentality, and taught that anyone who wanted to lead or exercise any kind of power should first learn to be meek and humble. To fall at the feet of someone was an act of supplication. In one story in Luke two desperate people fall at Jesus’ feet one to request healing, the other who has already been healed; Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house, because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. Jesus goes with him but on the way notices that power had gone out of him. Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Luke 8:41-42, 47. To fall at the feet of someone was also an act of obedience and worship. After his resurrection Jesus meets his disciples: ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him. Matthew 28:9 Jesus then commissions them to go and make disciples of all peoples. Feet are seen as vital to our capacity to bear witness to the good news. Having your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. Ephesians 6:15 In his book Wishful Thinking, Frederick Buechner comments on the fact that it is the feet that are beautiful in Isaiah’s words: How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings. Isaiah 52:7 “Not how beautiful are the herald’s lips which proclaim the good tidings, or his eyes as he proclaims them, but how beautiful are the feet - the feet without which he could never have made it up into the mountains, without which the good tidings would never have been proclaimed at all. Generally speaking, if you want to know who you really are, as distinct from who you like to think you are, keep an eye on where your feet take you.” Rupert 5 Who am I, and where do I fit in? Angela Elphick When were you born and where? I was born in Bournemouth, back in the days of flower power. Do you have any interesting family memories? Too many. We had a bit of a crazy life, moving from one place or country to another because of my Dad’s work as a Pentecostal minister. Who influenced you most in your life? My parents have had a huge impact on my life. They are both Christians and have served God in amazing ways all their adult lives. They have shown me that living for Jesus is an incredible adventure. How did you come to faith? I was only 7 when I first gave my life to Jesus, a very simple “yes” to God.